Orthodontic appliance



Aug. 19, 1969 E. SILVERMAN ETAL 3,461,559

v ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Y Filed Jan. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 umrraw MORTON COHEN, ELLIOTTS\LVERMANJ Mk4 V M g- 19, 1959 E. SILVERMAN ETAL 3,461,559 P ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jan 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IOTTSI RMAN,

AT f 0194(5)! 3,461,559 ORTHODDNTIC APPLIANCE Elliott Silverman, 4829 Atlantic Ave, Ventnor, NJ. 08406, and Morton Cohen, Medical Arts Bldg, Jenlrintown, Pa. 19046 Filed Jan. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 520,383 Int. Cl. A61c 7/00 U.S. Cl. 32-l4 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is essentially concerned with an orthodontic appliance wherein a socket is fixed to a band about a patients tooth, the socket extending longitudinally of the tooth having one end open and provided with a central window facing away from the band. A carrier is removably inserted in the socket with its central portion exposed through the window and a bracket extends from the central carrier portion externally of the window and is provided with a laterally extending open-ended passage for receiving an orthodontic wire.

This invention relates generally to orthodontic appliances, and is especially concerned with novel and highly improved constructions for applying moving forces to teeth.

As is well known to those versed in the art, present orthodontic practices include the securement of wirereceiving brackets to a patients teeth, and the engagement of wire in such brackets, as by the light-wire, edgewise and other techniques, to effect the desired tooth movement. As conventionally employed, a wire-receiving bracket of the desired type is anchored to a band, and the band circumposed about a tooth. When the patients teeth are so equipped, the appropriate wire is engaged in the several brackets and necessary ligatures applied. While briefly described above, this is a tedious and timeconsuming procedure, both in fabrication of the equipment and application to the teeth. Further, during the period of treatment, at several stages thereof, it becomes necessary to change the moving forces applied. This requires repeated removal and replacement of ligatures. wire and bands, further adding to the time andexpense of treatment. a

While it has been proposed to employ on a single tooth band a combination bracket capable of utilization in more than one therapeutic technique, such combination brackets have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, combination brackets are by their nature relatively large and complex, being relatively expensive, likely to cause discomfort to the patient, and more readily subject to damage in use, to require replacement of the entire band.

It has also been proposed to provide wire-receiving brackets replaceable with respect to tooth bands, but prior attempts in this regard have proved difiicult to apply, uncomfortable to the patient, damaging to cosmetic appearance. and unreliable in use.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a highly improved orthodontic-appliance system which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, greatly reduces the time and effort required of the orthodontist, is neat and highly attractive in appearance, durable and reliable throughout the necessary extended periods of use, and occupies relatively little space with a minimum of protuberances to afford maximum comfort to the patient.

The invention more particularly contemplates the provision of a unique construction of socket carried by a tooth band, which socket removably receives any selected United States Patent carrier provided with a desired bracket, wherein the carrier is readily removable but self-retaining in operative position without ligatures or other fasteners, to greatly simplify various orthodontic techniques.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide an orthodontic appliance having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, wherein a removable bracket carrier may advantageously be fabricated of plastic or other suitable material to conceal the tooth band for enhanced cosmetic appearance.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a unique construction wherein one or more shims or spacers of selected dimension may be removably inserted in the carrier socket or holder to selectively locate the carrier and bracket at a desired elevation.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the feature of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing a patients teeth and having orthodontic appliances of the present invention associated therewith, showing for purposes of illustration the edgewise technique;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, partially broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, also partially broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating an ap pliance of FIGURES 1-3 in exploded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view taken generally along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a front perspective view showing orthodontic appliances in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention as applied to upper teeth and utilizing the light-wire technique;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the "line 11-11 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 12-412 of FIGURE 11.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, there are illustrated therein a patients lower teeth,- as at 28 and 21 extending upward from a guru line 22 and terminating at the incisal edge, respectively designated 23 and 24 on teeth 20. and 21.

A toothernbracing band may be circumposed about each tooth 2t and 21, one such band being designated 26 about the tooth 20'. The band 26 may be of suitable conventional construction, as of preformed metal deformable about the tooth; or, the band may be fabricated of other material, such as plastic, if desired.

Carried by each band, externally thereof for location on the front side of a tooth is a socket, generally designated 27, best seen in FIGURE 4. The socket 27 includes a pair of side walls 28, see FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 outstanding from the front outer surface of band 26, and

extending generally vertically between the upper and lower edges thereof. A lower wall 29 projects outward from the external surface of the band 26, extending along the lower edge thereof between the lower ends of side walls 28. The side walls 28 and bottom wall 29 may be formed integral with or aflixed to the band 26 in any suitable manner, as by welding, or other. Extending along each of the side walls 28, generally coextensive therewith, is a front wall 30. Each front wall 30 projects laterally beyond its adjacent side wall 28 to define inner and outer flanges or lips 31 and 32. Thus, each pocket side wall 28 and its adjacent front wall 31 are generally T-shaped in cross section, with the front walls defining inner and outer flanges or lips spaced from and facing toward the band 26. Extending along the bottom wall 29, spaced from the band 26, is an inturned or upwardly projecting lower end front-Wall portion or flange 33. The lower front-wall portion 33 thus combines with the bottom or end wall 29 to define an L-shaped section.

It will now be appreciated that the pocket 27 has one end closed, its lower end, by end wall 29, and its upper end open. Further, the pocket front wall may be considered as defined by the lips or flanges 31 and 33 as bounding a central front opening of the pocket. Viewed otherwise, the side walls 28 and end wall 29, and their associated flanges 31, 32 and 33 may be considered as a generally U-shaped formation defining the upwardly opening pocket 27 with its forwardly opening central region.

A carrier is generally designated 36 and may be integrally formed of any suitable material, molded plastic having been found advantageous for its inherent resiliency and integral coloring. The carrier 36 may be formed of a generally arcuate body defined between an arcuate outer or front surface 37 and a conformably arcuate inner or back surface 38. The front or outer surface 37 may be convex, and the back or inner surface 38 may be concave. Formed on the inner or back side of the carrier 36 are a pair of generally upright, laterally spaced slots 39 which may extend between and open through the upper and lower carrier edges 40 and 41. The slots 39 are generally T-shaped in section, best seen in FIGURES 3 and 8 for reception of the pocket side and front walls 28 and 30. Further, the lower edge 41 of carrier 36, between slots 39, is cut away, as at 42 for receiving pocket end closure or bottom wall 29, while the front carrier surface 37 is recessed, as at 43, along cutout 42 for conformably re ceiving the front-wall portion or flange 33.

By this configuration, the carrier 36 is removably insertable downwardly into pocket 27, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. It is apparent in FIGURES 68 that the pocket 27 and slots 39 are slightly tapered or convergent in the downward direction for snug frictional fit of the carrier in the pocket. However, suitable snug frictional fit may be obtained by the inherent resilience of the materials employed, rather than by the tapering configuration, or by a combination of both, if desired. Under certain conditions the pocket 27 may have both its incisal and gingival ends open, and a carrier retained in position by frictional engagement with pocket side walls 28 and front walls 30.

As appears in FIGURES 7 and 8, the undercut slots 39 "are spaced laterally from each other in the medial region of carrier 36, and spaced inward from the opposite ends 45 of the carrier. By this extension of the carrier 36 be yond the slots 39, the carrier portions 46 between each slot 39 and adjacent end 45 serve to define wings engageable with a band 26 on opposite sides of the receiving pocket 27, to further insure firm securement of the carrier in the pocket. That is, the wings 46 may be configured for resiliently defiectable engagement with the band 26 to maintain and insure frictional holding engagement with the pocket and band.

Provided on the convexly arcuate front surface 37 of carrier 36 are one or more wire-receiving brackets 47. The brackets 47 may be of conventional configuration, being illustrated in FIGURES 1-8 as of the edgewise type, but

by the instant invention may be integrally formed with the carrier 36, say of plastic or other suitable material. Of course, the brackets 47 may be formed separate from the carrier 36 and fixed thereto by any suitable means.

Also illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 is a carrier shim or space generally designated 50. The spacer or s'him may be fabricated of plastic or other suitable material, preferably having the resilient and integral color characteristics of plastic, and formed with an arcuately convex front or outer surface 51 and an arcuately concave inner or back surface 52 substantially similar to that of the carrier 36. The shim 50 is further similar to the carrier 36 in having a pair of laterally spaced, generally vertically extending, open-ended slots 53 formed on the inner or back face of the shim. The slots 53 are each of generally T-shape in section, similar to the slots 39, for reception of the pocket side and front walls 28 and 30. Further, the lower edge of the spacer 50 is cut away or removed between the slots 53 as at 54 for receiving the pocket end wall 29, while the forward convex side of the shim is recessed, as at 55 for receiving the lower front wall portion 33. The shim 50 may include lateral extensions or wing portions 56 extending beyond the slots 53 corresponding to the carrier wings 46; and, a raised land 57 may be provided on the upper side of the shim for conforming engagement in the downwardly facing recess 43 of the carrier.

In use the necessary bands 26 are applied to appropriate teeth, and carriers 36 inserted in pockets 27 for firm securement of the carriers to the teeth. The forwardto-rearward dimension or thickness of each carrier 36 is suflicient to project forwardly through and beyond the central open region of its receiving pocket 27. Further, the arcuately convex carrier front wall 37 provides a desired arcuate surface for carrying the Wire-receiving brackets. If it is desired to elevate the Wire-receiving brackets of one tooth relative to another tooth, a spacer such as at 50 may be inserted into the appropriate pocket 27 before insertion therein of the carrier 36. Such arrangement is shown as applied to the tooth 20 in FIGURE 1. It will there be observed that the brackets 47 are elevated or further spaced from the gingival tooth end than without the spacer 50. Of course, spacers of different sizes, or more than one spacer may be employed, as required. Further, the carrier 36 is illustrated as provided with a pair of brackets 47, but any desired number and type of brackets may be fixed to a carrier, as required. For example, in FIGURE 1 there is applied to tooth 21 a carrier 36a which may be subsantiallv identical to the carrier 36 but is provided with only a single centrally located bracket, as at 47a. Thus, the wire 60, say of rectangular cross section, is threaded through brackets 47a and 47, being respectively secured therein by ligatures 61 and 62, to practice the edgewise wire technique. It will also appear in FIGURE 1 that the carriers 36 and 36a efiectively cover to cosmetically conceal the tooth bands, to considerably reduce and minimize psychological problems associated with orthodontic appliances. For proper cosmetic effect and fitting, the end edges 45 of the carriers 36 may be filed, cut or otherwise trimmed to the desired location or dimension.

While the hereinbefore described orthodontic-appliance construction has been made with specific reference to a patients lower teeth, it is understood that the structure of the instant invention is equally well adapated for use with upper teeth. For example, although the pocket 27 of FIGURES 4 and 5 'has been referred to as having its lower end closed, this is in reality a closed gingival end, as it may be a closed upper end when employed in conjunction with upper teeth. Similarly, the described lower and upper edges 41 and 46 of carrier 36 are in reality gingival and incisal edges, and may be inverted for use on upper teeth.

In FIGURES 9-12, the orthodontic construction in accordance with teachings of the present invention is employed on upper teeth 20b and 21b having upper gingival and lower incisal ends. Tooth bands are applied upward over the lower incisal ends of teeth 20b and 21b, with the pockets 27b secured to the external front sides of the tooth bands and having their upper gingival end-s closed. Carriers 36b, which may be identical to carrier 36, are inserted upward in respective pockets 27b; and, a spacer 50b is employed in the pocket of tooth 20b to vary the elevation of the adjacent carrier.

In order to illustrate another orthodontic technique adapted to be employed by the appliance of the instant invention, the carriers 36]; of FIGURE 9 are provided with a different type of bracket, as at 65, namely a thinwire bracket including a body portion 66 integral with or secured fast to the forward face of carrier 36b, and a prong or rigid tongue 67 projecting from the body 66 toward the incisal tooth end and spaced from the front carrier surface. A wire 68 is engaged beneath the bracket body 66 inward of the tongue 67 and held in position spaced from the forward face of carrier 36b by a hook 69 anchored in the bracket.

As is well known, the light-wire technique is often used prior to and in conjunction with the edgewise technique for effecting tooth swing. For this purpose, single-point contact of the light wire 68 is highly desirable and effectively obtained by the instant appliance, the wire being held by the hook 69 away from the front surface of carrier 36b. Also, the use of shims, as at 50b in the lightwire technique is helpful in applying the moving force proximate to the incisal tooth end.

In both such techniques, the highly advantageous cosmetic eifect of the carrier overlying the band is obvious. Also, it is readily appreciated that techniques may be changed by mere removal and replacement of carriers. For example, to change from the light-wire technique of FIGURES 912, the carriers 36b are removed and replaced by carriers 36 having the edgewise brackets.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides an orthodontic appliance which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, professional use, comfort and effectiveness.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An orthodontic appliance comprising a socket adapted to be fixed to said tooth extending longitudinally of the tooth and having at least one end open facing toward one tooth end, said socket having a central window opening away from said tooth, a carrier removably inserted into said socket through the open end thereof and having its central portion exposed through said window, a pair of wings extending laterally oppositely from the central portion of said carrier overlying said socket and tooth and a wire-receiving bracket fixed on the central portion of said carrier and extending externally of said window, said bracket having a laterally extending open-ended wirereceiving passageway located outwardly of said socket, said carrier is replaceable for presenting a different-type bracket through said window without removing said socket.

2. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, said socket tapering away from its open end, and said carrier being configured for snug frictional retention in said socket.

3. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, said socket having its other end closed.

4. An orthodontic appliance according toclaim 3, in combination with a shim of selected height configured for removable conforming engagement in the closed end region of said socket, whereby said carrier is insertable in said socket into engagement with said spacer for location at a selected elevation.

5. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, said carrier being fabricated of white plastic material to simulate a tooth.

6. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 4, said carrier and bracket being integrally fabricated of said white plastic material.

7. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, said central window opening toward said one tooth end for receiving a carrier projecting outwardly through said window away from said band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,721 5/1919 Young. 1,369,665 2/1921 Johnson. 2,908,974 10/ 1959 Stifter. 3,061,929 11/1962 Jarabak. 3,119,182 1/1964 Miller. 3,303,565 2/1967 Newman.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

